Straw-stacker.



PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903..

E. T. DUNN. STRAW STACK-ER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

NO MODEL.

No. 744,514. PATENTED Nov. 17,1903.

' B. T. DUNN.

S'TRAW STAGKER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1903.

" SHEETS" 12' 2.

8 HES N0 MODEL.

Fatented fiovember 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

EARL T. DUNN, ontnwls owA.

' sTRAw sTAcKER. Q I

'SPEO1FIGATION forming- W of Letters Patent No. 744,514, dated November 17, 1903.

4 Application filed January 29,1903. Serial No. 141,047. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EARLlT/DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewis, in the county of Cass and State oflowa, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in Straw Stackers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to devisenovel instrumentalities for automatically swinging the elevator of a stacker from side to side for equal distribution of the straw over a given space, operating means for driving the elevator, and mechanisms for raising and loweri-ng the outer section of the elevator or folding the same upon the separator or into compact form, as required. 7 K

: For a full description of the invention and the merits thereofand also to acquire a knowl-' edge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

' While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved straw-stackerin operative relation. Fig. 2'is a central longitudinal section, the dotted lines showing 'an'adjusted position of the stacker. Fig. 3;is a transverse section about on the line X X of Fig. 2, showing the parts on a larger scale. Fig. dis a top plan 1 view of the base supporting the stacker. Fig. 5 is a view of the stacker-platform as seen from the bottom side. Fig. 6 is a detail per spective view of the means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the stacker.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. I

The stacker is adapted to be applied to a separator of any design or make and com prises a supporting-base of such formation as to be readily applied and fitted to 'the separator for which the stackeris designed.- As illustrated, the base is provided at its outer end with a track 1, upon which the stacker is mounted to oscillate so as to distribute the straw over a given space. The track 1 is of a drive-belt 8. plied to the opposite end of the shaft 4 and :is connected by means of a sprocket c hain preferably of circular form and preferably forms a part of the base, which comprises in its construction side bars 2 and cross-bars 3. A transverse shaft 4 is journaled in bearings applied to the rear portion of the base and is provided intermediate of its ends with a wormgear 5, which is in mesh with a horizontallydisposed gear-whee1'6, mounted upon a vertical spindle. A drive-pulley 7 is applied to one end of the shafttand'receivesmotion from a driven partof the separator by means A sprocket-wheel 9 is ap with a sprocket-pinion 11, applied to the outer end of a shaft 12, transversely arranged near ,the outer end of said base and provided at its inner end with a bevel-pinion 13, in mesh with 'beve l cog gearing 14:, applied to the lower side of anidler 15, loosely mounted :upon'the vertical spindle 16, pendent from the platform of the stacker and journaled in the bearing 17, applied to the front portion of the base, said spindle 16 being concentric with the track 1.

the spindle 16 and is connected by a pitman.

An arm 18 is secured to 19 with the gear-Wheel 6, so as to transmit motion from said gear-wheel to the base of the stacker for oscillating the latter. The pitman 19 has adjustable connection with the Qgear-wheel 6 to vary the amplitude of oscillation of the stacker according to the spaceto be occupied by the stack. The platform 20 is provided at a central point with the spindle 16, which is mounted in the bearing 17, and said platform is mounted to travel upon the track 1 and is provided with rotary supports 21 to reduce the friction to the smallest amount possible. The .platform20 is preferably of rectangular shape and is provided with inclosing sides 22, from the upper edges of which project guards 23 to catch any straw or grain that may escape and'direct the same inward upon the plat form, so as to'be received upon the carrier24,

arranged thereover. The carrier 24 consists of an endless apron mounted upon rollers 25 and 26 at opposite ends of the platform. The shaft of the roller 26 projects at one end and receives the pulley 27, to which motion is im-.

parted by means of a drive-belt 28 froma corresponding pulley 29, applied to the outer end of a shaft 30, journaled in bearings pendent from the platform and having at its inner end a bevel-pinion 31 in mesh with complementary bevel-gearing 32, applied to the upper side of the idler 15.

A holder cooperates with the inner or upright portion of the elevator 45 to prevent the wind from blowing'the straw or grain therefrom and consists of an endless apron or belt 33, mounted at its ends upon rollers 34 and 35, journaled to the side pieces 36 of the first section 41 of the stacker. A pulley 39 is secured to an extension of the shaft or journal of the roller and is connected bya crossed belt 40 with the pulley 48, applied to an extension of the shaft of the roller 43, whereby the holder or endless belt 33 is driven from the elevator and in an opposite direction, so that the proximal portions or runs of the parts 33 and 45 travel in the same direction that is, away from the separator toward the stack.

The stacker proper comprises sections 41 and 42, pivotally connected at their adjacent ends, whereby the outermost section 42 is adapted to be raised and lowered and to be folded upon the separator, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Rollers 43 and 44 are applied to the extreme ends of the sections 41 and 42 and support an elevator 45, the upper and lower portions of which pass over direction-pulleys 46 and 47, applied to the sections adjacent to their pivotal ends. Each of the sections 41 and 42 is provided with side pieces to prevent the wind from blowing the grain sidewise therefrom. The bottoms of the sections 41 and 42 are closed, so as to support the straw passing thereover. The elevator 45 may be of any structural type commonly employed in machines of this character and preferably consists of endless straps or chains connected by toothed cross-bars. The first section 41 of the stacker is pivotally connected to the platform and is normally inclined upwardly and away from the separator. A pulley 48 is applied to the shaft or extended journal of the roller 43 and receives motion from the drive-belt 28, by means of which the elevator is operated.

As herein stated, the outermost section 42 of the stacker is susceptible of adjustment at its outer end, and in order to effect this result the following instrumentalities have been devised, the same consisting of sprocket-Wheels 49, rigidly attached to opposite sides of the section 42 in coaxial alinement with its pivotal connection with the section 41, shaft 50, journaled in bearings applied to the section 41 within convenient reach of the ground, sprocket-pinions 51, secured to opposite ends of the shaft 50,sprocket-chains 52, connecting the sprocket-pinions 51 with the sprocketwheels 49,and means for imparting movement to the shaft and for holding the same in an adjusted position. For convenience a crank-handle 53 is applied to one end of the shaft 50 and a ratchet-wheel 54 is secured to said shaft and codperates with a pawl 55 applied to the section 41. Upon turning the shaft 50 the sprocket-chains 52 are moved and effect a turning of the section 42, so as to raise or lower the outer end thereof or to fold said section upon the separator, as hereinbefore stated.

A protector is applied to the rear end of the separator 39 to direct the straw and grain upon. the carrier 24 and to prevent the wind scattering the same. This protector is of rounded form and comprises an upper section 56, of metal, and a lowersection 57, of canvas or textile. A deflector 58 is located at the rear of the lowermost straw-carrier of the separator and preferably consists of a canvas or textile apron and serves to prevent straw and grain from being carried backward upon the gear-wheel 6 and insures its delivery upon the carrier 24 or the adjacent guard 23.

A separator being equipped with a stacker attachment constructed in accordance with this invention is adapted for operation in the following manner, and the straw delivered from the separator is received upon the carrier 24 and is confined thereon by the holder or endless apron 33 and delivered to the elevator 45, by means of which the straw is carried upward and rearward and delivered upon the stack. The stacker being oscillated through the intervention of the mechanism herein described distributes the straw evenly upon the stack throughout the length of space occupied thereby. The idler 15 being mounted in coaxial alinement with the center of oscillation of the stacker does not interfere in the least with the oscillatory movements thereof and at the same time permits of driving the several parts 24, 33, and 45 at any and all stages of movement of the stacker, as will be readily comprehended.

The frame of the elevator is composed of jointed sections and is pivoted to the platform in any substantial manner to admit of adjustment to meet existing conditions. The pivotal or hinge connection of the elevatorframe with the platform is in coaxial alinement with the roller 43. To admit of adjustment of the elevator frame the following means have been devised, the same consisting of an upright frame 59, secured at its lower end to the platform 20, so as to turn therewith, and provided at its upper end with direction-pulleys 60 for the operating ropes or cables 61 to pass over. A stay 37 is secured to the frame of the separator and extends rearward therefrom and is pivoted at 38 to a corresponding stay 62, secured to the upper portion of the frame 59, thereby admitting of said frame turning with the platform 20 and stacker. The pivotal connection 38 between the stays 37 and 62 is in vertical alinement with the spindle 16, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, whereby binding is obviated and the stacker permitted to oscillate freely. The stays 37 and 62 are of approximatelybow shape IIO and are pivotally connected intermediate of their ends. stantial construction and comprises uprights suitably braced. A Windlass 63 is journaled to the lower portion of the frame 59, and one end of the ropes or cables 61 is attached thereto, so as to wind thereon to effect a raising of the stacker. Obviously, by turning the Windlass to admit of the ropes or cables unwinding therefrom the stacker may be lowcred at its outer end, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The Windlass 63 is held in the required position by the usual ratchet and pawl cooperating therewith, so as to'fix the adjusted position of the stacker. The

other end of the ropesor cables is attached to the section 41 of the elevator-frame near the pivotal connection therewith of the section 42.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a stacker, the combination of a base, a

The frame 59 may be of any sub stacker mounted for oscillatory movement upon said base and having a pendent journal, an arm secured to said journal, an idler mounted upon the journal, a shaft journaled to the platform of the stacker and in mesh with said idler and adapted to transmit motion to the elevator of the stacker, a second shaft journaled to the base and likewise in mesh with said idler, a gear-wheel journaled upon the base and connected by pitmen with the arm of the aforementioned journal, and a power-driven shaft in mesh with said gearwheel and connected with the shaft journaled to the base for transmitting motion thereto, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

. EARL T. DUNN. [n s] Witnesses:

JAMES H. GRANT, B. O. HARRIS. 

